ITC conducting aerial patrols

Midland Daily News

Published
1:34 am EDT, Saturday, May 26, 2018

ITC will be conducting its semi-annual aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission towers and lines in east Michigan from about May 31 to June 8, weather permitting. The helicopter patrols are conducted to provide an overall status of the overhead transmission system that is operated by ITC's Michigan operating entities, ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company.

The aerial inspections will cover the eastern part of the state, including all or parts of Midland, Clinton, Genesee, Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola counties.

These patrols are a North American Electrical Reliability Corporation requirement for ITC's vegetation management program, support proactive maintenance objectives, and are in line with the company's model for operational excellence. They include inspections of steel towers, wood poles, conductors (wires), insulators and other equipment. Crews check for damaged or worn equipment and vegetation hazards.

The inspection flights are often conducted at low altitudes to allow accurate visual inspection of equipment for lightning damage, wear or other potential problems. This is normal procedure, so there is no cause for alarm if a low-flying helicopter is sighted near transmission lines. The flights began in southwest Michigan on May 7 and will cover nearly all of the Lower Peninsula, concluding in northern Michigan about June 15.